MICHAEL CHOPRA has revealed he can handle the heat ahead of his return to St James’ Park on Friday night with Cardiff City.

But he has promised the Toon Army he will not celebrate if he finally scores at the ground in which he was once a season ticket holder.

The Geordie striker, who was linked with a move back in the January transfer window, was roundly booed by home fans when he last appeared on the hallowed turf at Gallowgate, but ended up falling out of favour with Sunderland fans too after missing a late sitter in last season’s Tyne-Wear derby.

Chopra was also subject to abuse at last Wednesday’s 2-0 win over Crystal Palace after he became involved with a Newcastle fan who had asked him why he joined the Wearsiders in the first place.

It was Glenn Roeder who offered Chopra the chance to stay at United back in 2006, but the Academy product – who scored his only league goal against Sunderland in a 4-1 win – opted to switch to the Bluebirds in search of first-team football before heading to the Stadium of Light.

Chopra told the Chronicle: “Obviously, I’m a Newcastle fan, and it’s always been a dream of mine to score at St James’s Park.

“It’s still my dream now, but even if I do score, I won’t celebrate.

“I’ve got a lot of respect for Newcastle and the fans.

“I go to a lot of games – when I’ve got a day off, I get up to Newcastle and watch them play.

“I still support the team – it’s where I was brought up – but on Friday, I’m a Cardiff City player, not a Newcastle player. I’ve got to do my best for Cardiff.

“I’m looking forward to it – it’s the first fixture I looked for when they came out.

“I still love the football club, but on Friday, when I put a Cardiff City shirt on, I’ll only be thinking about helping the team get a result.”

Many Toon fans raised eyebrows when Chopra left United four years ago and wanted to see the striker push on after Alan Shearer hung up his boots.

But Chopra says: “It was amazing to play for Newcastle.

“It was a dream to play at St James’s Park, and to do that with Alan Shearer, the best striker to play for the club, was a dream come true.

“But I had to leave the club.

“When Alan Shearer, retired, I knew they would bring someone else in. I had to leave to further my career – I had to get out and play football.

“Dave Jones took a chance, and I’ll always be grateful.

“He took a risk, and I got 22 goals in 42 games.”

Chopra accepts it could still be a rocky ride on Friday and reflected on his last visit as a player to St James’.

He said: “I went back with Sunderland last year, and I got stick when I warmed up, but that’s part of the game.

“You’ve got to put it to the back of your head.

“It was difficult for me to play for Sunderland against Newcastle, as I’m a big Newcastle fan, but when it comes to football, you’ve got to put it to one side.

“I went to Sunderland to play in the Premier League – it was a decision I had to make.

“Any player wants to play at the highest level.

“I can understand what the fans thought, but I’m a football player, and I had a job to do.”